My Take on the Wage Bill-Nimrod Muyale

Analysing the recurrent expenditure..one is bound to realize we do about 1trillion..or just about how much KRA will collect. The 0.6 trillion for development is from loans domestic (tbill/tbonds)+ foreign (China+IDB+EDB)--90%,foreign AID and grants (about 100B--70B in AID).
Now zeroing on recurrent expenditure..about 30%..or 300B is NON- discretionary spending in Consolidated Fund...that we use to pay Loan interest +pension and others (like UN subscription).
The elephant in the house is discretionary spending... salaries and gov supplies.... 600-700B. TSC takes 150B. Free Primary education and subsidized secondary
takes 40B. Higher education (lecturers/student grants) takes 50B.

So 250B..or nearly 40% of the money goes to education. The next big spender is KDF at 70B
annually. The AP/Police/ takes in 60B. So security takes 150B. The next big spender is Drugs/Doctors/Nurses....who combined takes home 60B or about. Those are the elephant in
the house... nearly 500B is locked up in 3 sectors..education...security and health...the rest of ministries,agencies,commission and parastals share 150-200B. For example
Parliament takes 15B..Judiciary about the same...each about 2% of recurrent= expenditure. Bottomline; You want to cut expenditure..reduce spending in education....reduce free primary and
subsidized secondary education. Remove corruption from KDF..no way KDF can outspend Police/AP/Prov Administration. KDF and Education sector are weighing down kenya. KDF is top 4 spender in Africa..and i think no 17 in world..and they have laughable hardware. Audit those 70B.. no way 20-30K soldiers can spend that much. Remove some of investment in education...let the parent chip in primary schools and secondary school once

I Speak for Literature!-Otieno Sikuri,Maseno University

Just the other day I was drawn into a very passionate polemic with fellow scribe Dikembe Disembe.In my submission I argued that Dikembe,a revered literary boxer had folded tail and was slowly slipping into unintellectualism, even sensationalism. Then,Dikembe introduced someone he called our senior scribe Sudi Baraka.It was somehow overawing,but i stuck to my guns,I stood my ground.This very interesting debate caught the attention of wakili Dennis Onyango,a close Dikembe confidante(judging by the way he cuddled Dikembe) and a member of Raila's inner sanctum.Wakili came out guns blazing to protect and proclaim the versatility and dynamism of our favorite pen-master. As the friendly confrontation ebbed,Shem Beverton,another mercurial wordsmith joined the bandwagon.I adore Shem for one thing,just yesterday he excoriated with bare-knuckles,Gitungo Wamere(Dikembe's protege) for his unruly slander of ODM's party leader.Shem stated thus,"a scholar of your caliber should be beyond these alarmist obfuscations".Hehe! really magnificent.Its noteworthy that Wamere is a victim of Railaphobia and this is really disturbing.How can a man accommodate so much hate and fear?But as they say, that's a story for another day. Truth be told,Dikembe is a literati,a literati in every sense of the word,but that is not the reason why i write this,that's not the deal,in fact,there's no nexus betwixt what I have written and what I intend to write. Reader,I am writing this to defend literature,not literature the subject or literature the classwork that has constantly been brought to disrepute,but literature the art,the living art,that art that lies unexplored in our hearts. For eons we have played audience to unconcerned teachers of literature with the effect that soon,very soon,if nothing is done,this fine art will be turned into an empty shell.These clownish prattles must grind to a halt. How can it be that progressiveness and productivity no longer accompany this discipline? A perceived good teacher comes to class with a textbook,delves into the songs of Ocol and Lawino,albeit superficially because of want of time,tackles with neglect the text by Margaret Ogola and then exits.This teacher probably in Alliance or Maranda may produce very good grades,but really! What will be the destiny of.literature in these students lives? I want us to pick it from there going forward.I want us to mould these half-baked students bequeathed to us. I am writing to awaken you to this revolution that is broiling in the hearts and minds of avid lovers of this noble discipline. I am writing to safeguard the gains we have made so far and to beseech you ooh dear reader! not to be discourteous to the father of life,the destiny of us all,Literature. Everyday i interact with you and the mirth,the enthusiasm with which you respond to serious questions sticks in the craw.Lets fight this fight,lets tell Taban lo Liyong that the literary swampland is no more.it is now a throbbing gold mine. Dikembe was gunning for ODM's publicity and communication secretary.He didn't make it ,he couldn't make it,the odds were simply insurmountable and then the Men in black and so on and so forth.I believe there will be a second act for that party,then, we'll consider him accordingly. I invite you to spar with me.join me and those of our ilk as we attempt to effect this reconstruction,this metamorphosis. Cheers msomaji,I speak for literature.

For ODM To Grow Raila Must Go!-Jack Ogola,Senior Political Scientist

ODM is in turmoil. PR deflections and cheap propaganda gimmicks can no longer conceal its terminal structural and genetical defects. The once promising political organization is not able to organize its internal party elections. Persistent, whimsical and arbitrary imposition of deadwoods, cronies, relatives and lovers of the autocratic party leader has finally ground ODM to a complete halt. It’s reached a curl-de-sac.
The euphoria that once propelled the old autocrat and his outfit to mythical adulation by millions of people has run its course. The goodwill of the glorious people of Kenya has been extinguished through betrayal, exploitation and a lackadaisical attitude. People are tired, sick and repulsed by un-ending string of games of musical chairs and propaganda. They want and expect, real, concrete results. They want and deserve deeds, not empty words. They are no longer interested in buffoonery, clownish prattle and Vitendawili. The people want to see positive, progressive and concrete policy options. They want to see practical programs on unemployment, grand corruption and infrastructural decay.
Kenyans are interested on practical plans on how we can harvest, store and use rain and underground water for irrigation, increased food production and food security. The people want affordable high quality health care and education; not empty rhetoric. The people want and expect to see a viable - and real - alternative government in waiting; not a disorganized, discordant and confused group of self-seekers. ODM has been unable and unwilling to fully discharge its onerous responsibilities as a viable opposition to the Jubilee coalition primarily because of its terminal illnesses such as lack of ideological clarity and focus; lethargic and deeply compromised leadership; and institutionalized culture of deception. The rot is deep and extensive; it cannot be camouflaged.
ODM has been dead throughout; the occasional dazzle, magnified by media hoopla, notwithstanding. To begin with, since its founding in 2007, it has never held a free, fair and credible party election. The ODM constitution, too, has been a malleable, ever-changing amoeba. The number of ODM party organs has kept changing and shifting depending on the idiosyncratic needs and ravages of the autocratic Party Leader and the dictates of circumstances. Tired and punctured party officials like Henry Kosgey and Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o who resigned on February 28^th 2014 had been hand- picked and imposed on those positions by the Party Leader not because they were the best and most dynamic for those positions (Kenyans know Henry Kosgey’s background), but merely on account of their proven malleability. Other previous party leaders like Musalia Mudavadi, William Ruto, Najib Balala and Charity Ngilu who had been incorporated into the ODM leadership hierarchy due to their perceived regional popularity – or for tactical reasons – soon found themselves unwanted and unappreciated. They were deemed disposable by the autocratic party leader.
The autocrat considered himself indispensable, invincible and ‘a historical inevitability.’ Many of his supporters have treated him as a myth, an enigma, and a legend all rolled up into one. He was supposed to be Kenya’s redeemer from all ills. Subsequently, the expendables soon voted with their feet. Thus ODM leadership has never been popularly ‘chosen’ by its members. They have consistently been selected through contrived or manipulated ‘elections.’ The renewal, rejuvenation and rebirth inherent in fresh leaderships and that ought to organically emerge from transitional or succession elections haven’t been possible because free, fair and credible party elections have never been experienced in ODM. This is the indisputable truth: ODM has been practically dead since its founding. ODM, as it is presently constituted, is also legally dead.
 Firstly, it’s been rudderless and operating under the totalitarian party leader for eons in contravention of democratic governance principles that require periodic credible party elections. Although sporadic but fake party elections have been organized in different parts of Kenya, none has occurred in ODM’s perceived cradle of Luo Nyanza. Secondly, it’s also in violation of the ODM constitution, which doesn’t provide for the imposition of ‘interim ad-hoc leaders’ following deliberately botched up party elections.
The induced abortion of ODM party elections of February 28, 2014, has left the party with no functioning offices and office-holders. The partisan party hoodlums now hypocritically and cynically referred to as ‘Men in Black’ disrupted the Kasarani meeting after the previously hand-picked party leaders – including the autocratic Party Leader, the chairman and secretary general - had resigned but before the process had concluded. That rendered ODM both legally and practically leaderless. The attack was staged when it became obvious that the self- styled ‘Team Fresh’ was on the verge of victory. And because ‘Team Fresh’ led by Ababu Namwamba – and not the doting, conservative Agwambo faction ˗ most observers knew that Kasarani wouldn’t be allowed by the ‘ODM party owners’ to produce a legitimate slate of party leaders.
Hankering on ‘Team Fresh’s’ side are a disparate group comprising distinct politicians and formations whose only reason for collaboration is their apparent ambitions to succeed Agwambo and his cronies. This group consists of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Siaya Senator James Orengo, Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, and Raila’s first cousin and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo. But my research also discloses that this team has been receiving ‘moral’ support from Ida Odinga. Apparently, Elizabeth Ongoro’s candidature was Ida’s project within ‘Team Fresh’ with the singular intention of ‘stopping Dr Zani.’
 Whether this theory is true or false is immaterial. What’s important and intriguing is that it is this group that is alleged by the ‘ODM owners’ to be comprised of ‘moles’ of the Jubilee leadership. Yet when the ‘Men in Black’ hoodlums attacked on February 28th, it was clear that they were doing so at the behest of the Party Leader and his cronies like the Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’, nominated MP Oburu Oginga, Funyula MP Dr. Paul Otuoma, and ODM activist George Aladwa. This is the team embroidered by nominated Senator Dr Zani. Days before the Kasarani debacle, Aladwa, Otuoma, Oburu and Kajwang’ had loudly and repeatedly protested at the ‘attempt by Team Fresh to steal Raila’s party.’ “Let them know that we will not allow them to snatch the party from its owner, Raila Odinga. ODM is Raila Odinga, and Raila Odinga is ODM! They can leave with their secret ballot!” Aladwa thundered.
When I sought comment from a friend and a fellow political strategist on the ODM imbroglio, his response was as cynical as it was apt: “Ja-Nyando,” he stated, “when you find someone demolishing his house, you can either watch quietly as he does so; or you can help him complete the task.” Yet the very notion of comparing a political party like ODM with personal possession is largely responsible for the way Kenyans have neglected to take charge of their democratic process and permitted demagogues and self- seekers to occupy positions of power and leadership at our collective expense.
Under the Political Parties Act, all parties are public entities. It is money drawn from the public coffers that fund party operations and activities, including the tens of millions that ODM wasted at their fake convention. In exchange, Kenyans expected them to conduct all their operations transparently, with decorum, maturity and in strict adherence to the Constitution, the applicable laws, the party constitution and democratic principles. The vibrancy of the party and its growth depends on continuous development of ideas, accommodation of divergent views and providing sustainable solutions to the country which is the foundation of social democracy that ODM is founded on.

Paradigm shift is the way forward for Africa!-Sharrone Orero

Yes! Forget the boardroom chants, the millennium aims and goals declarations, the treaties; the peace conventions… name them.
Forget all these economic policies and socioeconomic indicators of well being.
By all means trash the economic survey reports on the ever increasing cost of living.
Forget about the Gini coefficient, Pareto optimality, public and social policy and the Economic jargon that comes with it.
Allow yourself some selective amnesia on the development status of the country, the foreign policy, our trade partners, the politics of the day, the rule of the law, infrastructure, our diversity as a people - spare yourself that pain.

But I want us to think of us as a people; in light of our economic, social and development status.
I keep thinking and reaffirming that Africa (read Kenya), could have been in the seventh continent, perhaps even the fiftieth continent if there were, it could have still been the darkest continent, could have still been the poorest and of course it could have been the leading in terms of dehumanizing living conditions; the time and context notwithstanding.
And the reason lies not in its colonization or delayed development; no! It solely lies in the value systems we have as a people.
What really defines us as Africans?
Is it the diversity of our ethnicity? The plurality of our social traditions and practices? The variety of our talents and gifts or the deformity of our living conditions?

A cross checks in most African countries and you will realize the synonymous description of the blatant evils that define us.
If it is not a corrupt government then it is a government struggling with the adherence to the basic rule of law. If it is not a dictatorial regime then it is a liberal reign for the lucky few elites. If it is not a toothless judiciary then it is an independent one at the beck and call of the ruling class; where justice is freely offered to the highest bidder and the cry of the oppressed is the order of the day. If there is no spot in the civil service; then you can be assured of a large black market and other cartels where public goods are auctioned to private investors.
Need I talk of the elephant in the room; corruption?
Need I mention its blood sister ethnicity?
Wait; need I talk of dictatorship?
Do I need to mention poor infrastructure?
You certainly do not need me to talk about the culture of dependence that is stuck with us like tick on a camel’s back; of course not with the accrued debts that we comfortably pass down one generation to the next.
Now, now, you need no reminder about our poor socio-economic indicators; from a poor healthcare system, to an ailing education system, an almost collapsed civil service, our pathetic institutions, our scary income parity gaps, the lousy security- where insecurity is the order of the day and security is more of a privilege.
I can go on and on.

The evils that define us as a people far outweigh the good. I might be tempted to talk about the beauty of Africa’s flora and fauna, our excellent weather; but where will I hide my head when they start a microanalyses of our tribal and ethnic based democracies?
Where will I run to when they start a comparison of our level of development versus our resource endowment?
What will I say in defense when they crucify us at the altar of justice for crimes against humanity to which we are rightly guilty?
What will happen when they start describing our leaders by their right character traits like selfish, myopic, dictators?

For this reason I will hold my peace and try to talk not about the good in our continent; because it is obvious that the chaff far outweighs it in the scales of moral judgment.
But all is not lost; there is hope for us as a people.
The hope lies in a total paradigm shift from the usual, a change from the familiar and comfortable to embrace the strange yet beneficial for the betterment of our home.
I am talking about a change in our value systems. This in essence means a complete change in the way we do our things; a change in our day to day lives. This starts from the basic things like personal hygiene, use of public amenities, our view of others; basic human traits like humility, kindness and compassion. It will not only improve our appearance and enhance peace but it will improve our societal well being and move us from indecency at least. I know it sounds a far cry from reality but with time and age you realize that if you become the change you want to be and encourage others to do the same then with time all is sparkling and clean.
And so I will clean my doorstep and encourage my neighbor to clean his and at the end of the day we will have a clean continent!

Esteeming others to be better than myself is the hallmark of humility. When we realize that nobody is a child of a lesser god then we will remember to treat them as they truly deserve and not on the basis of their tribes or political affiliations. Our diversity in terms of our tribes and cultural backgrounds should not be something to be shunned but rather a basis for beauty in diversity. This should be the basis of our unity as a people and not a cause for division. The unfortunate bit about this part of the world is that we as an electorate are divided by politicians but united by trivial issues like terrorism; that is when we chant the ‘we are one’ slogans; under a thinly disguised veil of evident tribalism.
Sounds like the last straw that breaks the camel’s back but until we can focus our energies on that which is right for our nation building then we are heading nowhere. Until we shun tribalism and stop cleaving on the dominant evil that defines us, until we accept ethnicity as an abnormal normalcy; then we are still miles far from our destination.

Going back to basics; back to the highways to find out the paths long trodden by our founding fathers is the sure means of getting to know what really awaits us.
There is an even greater call to duty on the court of our leaders. They should be reminded that the dark ages of tyranny and selfishness are long gone. It is up to them to create and foster a sense of identity for their countrymen, to create a culture of inclusivity and to foster national unity by all means possible. It is an ardent reminder that the days of ‘divide and rule’ are long gone just like the sunset yesterday.
This in essence should see them put in place effective political and economic programs that respond to inequality; which is a sure formula of solving incidences of violence, insecurity, poverty, disease and other socioeconomic problems.
Cutting off the cargo cult mentality among Africans and empowering them to take charge of their continent will serve to alleviate most of these sufferings. We should remember that if it has to be then it is up to us. There is no magic, no formula, no prayers or daydreaming that will make things happen. Yes! No donkey laden cargo heavy with development will anchor at our doorsteps without any effort on our part; it will take blood and sweat to get things done but at the end of the day it will be worth it.

Let us go back to the fundamentals so that during the sunset year of our days, when we are all wrinkled and grey; we will look back at what we have done and smile back with the satisfaction of a life well lived, changes well effected and a difference made.

It calls for a paradigm shift – the magic wand in the bewitched maze of Africa’s desperation.

What Happened to Students' Activism?-Dennis Kirera,Maseno University

While I grew up, university students and graduates were few and as rare as democracy was in the 1990s. They were really respected, adored envied and liked by almost all. They were honored in burials and as well as in weddings. The society really considered them special with the rich and the peasants alike trooping to their homes with gifts and good wishes. University students are considered to be the cream of the society, they are intellectually sounding, hold the moral compass of the society. They are credited to having been so instrumental in the second liberation of our nation; Fighting to restore multiparty system and ending a tyrannical rule by the KANU. Many lost their lives for this nobble course. For instance Titus Adungosi Aloo was thrown to jail and tortured along with other 67 students for participating in a demonstration in support of the coup and he later died in jail from deliberate mistreatment which was a common form of torture. Many went to exile following threat from the government after they posed to be thorns in the flesh of the KANU administration. Miguna Miguna was one of them. Others like Edward Oyugi and Dr. Willy Mutunga remained to fight to the end. These were beautiful times when university students were really the cream of the society. Unfortunately it would be very unfair to compare those long gone days with our current ones where the intellects are as rotten as those they are supposed to fight. During those days the whole society was depending on the university students and in them they saw some light in the tunnel but the current society has left the society hopeless and disillusioned. The lecturers also played a big role and they were not left out as they took their arsenal and joined the students in the war. They are the ones who would instill ideas and the passion in the young and fresh minds of the students. They were taken to be role models and they even at times joined the student in the streets to fight against social injustices. For instance professor Mazrui , professor Micere Mugo , professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o and others were on the frontline.  It is very absurd and callous when a vice chancellor pays the student leaders, who have been elected by the students to represent them, so that they can mislead the students. As a comrade I elected this leader with the hope that since he is my colleague, we may understand each other well but he shamelessly betrays me. Later he comes chattering of how he wants to join politics as a career. This kind of a person is not only dangerous to the society and his family but also to himself because he lacks humanity and is only fit to live in a zoo. As a political scientist it leaves I with a question that if
power corrupts what does absolute power do...maybe it drives one nuts. As an intellect I have vowed to play my expected role and will join Juliani in saying "sitasimama maovu yakitawala". As my fellow intellects you are most welcome to join me in this nobble course. To my friends in UON who are about to exercise their democratic rights as comrades vote wisely and may peace prevail.

Dennis Kirera is a Political Science Student in  Maseno University

Wambui Nyutu:Beauty with Brains for Gender Affairs

When you meet her, you must notice her elegance. Always dressed like the corporate woman. It is either she is in a well fitting dress or a skirt. Neat and smart. She has a stern eye. The woman you can never ignore.

She has recently become a household name in University Of Nairobi. She previously only engaged in passive politics. Attending political functions, engaging in discussions and debates. It is her time to test the grounds.

WambuiNyutu is an undergraduate student in University Of Nairobi School Of Law who does more things than her age can allow. Taking a Law Degree and C.P.S at the same time, we can only describe her as a fighter. Growing up as a young lady, she has severally found herself founding and being part of various civic and social organizations dedicated to social change. She is the CEO founder ofMuran’gaCounty Associationof Elites a community based organization to mentor youths and create awareness on drug and substance abuse. It also runs a charity for aiding the poor in acquiring basic social amenities. Lastly, the group educates both men and women on gender parity stressing its importance on society with emphasis on gender equity.

She also doubles up as a secretary of Got A Smile Youth Groupbased in Nairobi. The group targets alleviating the suffering of people especially the sick and despondent by hospital visitations and donations. On all public holidays, you will find the group feeding street children. ‘Charity is humanity’ they say.

Asked where she gets her Inspiration from, she smiles boldly exposing a dimple on her left cheek.

“My dad. He has always been there for me. The gentleman who will never forget to call me no matter how tight his day is. Even when I hinted to him that I wished to vie for SONU elections, he gave me his blessings without hesitations. He believes in me. I can never let him down.”

The most interesting part of my interview was her comment on SONU politics. “Our education institution and most importantly our very own University must set a good example in recognizing values which not only dictate human morality but are also stipulated by the constitution of Kenya which is the supreme law of the land. Our university must stand to defend both ladies and gentlemen. It must treat both as separate entities and not as equals. A man can never be equal to a woman. We have different preferences in life. We must therefore approach the gender question with new tactics.                                             We cannot oppress the man so that the woman is empowered. I mean, gender equity as opposed to equality is the solution.

It is with this notion doubled up with my vast wealth of knowledge in handling gender matters and timely seconded by my passionate aspiration to serve comrades that I humble myself before fellow comrades seeking to serve as secretary for gender affairs. SONU must be transformed to an institution of ideologies not plain politicking. Let the comrades elect leaders of relevant education backgrounds.

The campaigns are tough for the woman but for my passion and determination, I cannot disappoint all those that believe in me.”

By the time am done with my interview with WambuiNyutuI perfectly understand why comrades refer to her as ‘wakili’.

WambuiNyutu is the top horse in the race for Secretary of Gender Affairs (SONU). 

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